Film: The Silence of the Lambs
Director: Jonathan Demme
Country: USA
Released: January 1991
Runtime: 118 minutes
Genre: Horror
Studio: Strong Heart Productions / Orion
Influenced: David Cronenberg, Phillip Noyce, David Lynch, David Fincher, Brett Ratner
Conceived as a sequel to Michael Mann's superb 1986 film Manhunter, which was an adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs is based on Harris' 1988 novel of the same name. The book was an immediate critical and commercial success, and it quickly generated interest in a film adaptation. In 1988, producer Edward S. Feldman acquired the film rights to the novel and hired screenwriter Ted Tally to adapt it. Tally's screenplay was faithful to the novel, but he made some significant changes, such as making FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) a more central character. Brian Cox (later of Succession fame) played serial killer Dr Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter, and it was another British actor, Anthony Hopkins, who was chosen to play the role in The Silence of the Lambs.
In the film, Starling is selected by her FBI superiors to interview Lecter, in the hope that his insights will help them catch another serial killer nicknamed Buffalo Bill, who is terrorising the state of Illinois by abducting and murdering young women. Starling engages in a psychological cat-and-mouse game with Lecter, who agrees to help her profile Buffalo Bill in exchange for personal information about her troubled past. As Starling delves deeper into the investigation, she faces various obstacles and dangers, including her interactions with Lecter, who charming, sinister and manipulative. The climax of the film involves a nailbiting, night-vision goggles confrontation between Starling and Buffalo Bill at his secluded home, leading to a tense and dramatic rescue operation. The film ends with a chilling phone call between Lecter and Starling, hinting at his escape and setting the stage for sequels.
The Silence of the Lambs was groundbreaking in many ways, not least the decision for it to feature a strong female protagonist in the lead role. The film also took an innovative to special effects, especially the use of makeup, which helped to create some of the film's most memorable images, such as the face of Buffalo Bill. Demme also took an innovative approach to filming the movie, getting the actors to stare into the camera rather than at each other when delivering the lines, to add to the movie's intense atmosphere. Demme, who had previously directed films like comedy Something Wild (1986), was not initially seen as the obvious choice for a psychological thriller like The Silence of the Lambs. However, he was passionate about the story and campaigned aggressively for the opportunity to direct it, even meeting with Thomas Harris multiple times to discuss his vision for the film and convince Harris of his commitment.
Demme's persistence paid off and the film won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster) and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also spawned a successful franchise, which includes the sequels Hannibal (2001) and Red Dragon (2002), as well as the prequel Hannibal Rising (2007). Rewatching the film now, it remains genuinely disturbing and it's clear to see how the complex and eerie relationship between Starling and Lecter spawned a whole new subgenre of psychological horror and crime movies. As well as the stellar performances, certain scenes and certain elements of the dialogue – "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti" – have also lingered long in the cultural memory. It's a film that not only explores the dark side of human nature, but also challenges us to confront our own fears.
P.S. It's an odd juxtaposition that Demme also made one of the most joyous and brilliant concert movies of all time, Stop Making Sense.
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